Chess Puzzle #1jajz — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1172 · Beginner · endgame, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, short.

Position

White: king f2; queen c8; knight h6; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/f3/g5/h3. Black: king g7; queen c1; rook e6; pawns a6/c6/c7/e5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxg5 — queen c1→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qg8+ — queen c8→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king g7→f6).
  3. Best move: Qxf7# — queen g8→f7, captures pawn, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

endgame, epaulette mate, mate, mate in 2, short. The combination ends with Qxf7# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/2p2pk1/p1p1r1pN/4p1Pp/4P3/1P3P1P/P1P2K2/2q5 b - - 2 35

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.